Share this post

SAN DIEGO – Statistical notables from the Broncos’ 35-24 comeback triumph over the Chargers here on Monday night:

24: The halftime deficit overcome by the Broncos — the largest in franchise history and the second-largest in NFL history. It also matches the largest deficit overcome at any point in the game, which was done two other times, most recently in a 37-34 Broncos win over Seattle in 1979. That comeback required a quarterback change from Norris Weese to Craig Morton; no such alteration was required this time.

Denver also set a franchise record for second-half points with 35.

158.3: Peyton Manning’s quarterback rating for the second half until his lone incompletion after halftime, which ended a streak of 13 consecutive completions. He wouldn’t throw another pass that wasn’t nullified by a penalty, finishing 13-of-14 for 167 yards with three touchdown passes after halftime.

176: Number of consecutive passes Manning had thrown without an interception until Quentin Jammer’s 80-yard pick-six in the second quarter Monday.

2.33: Number of touchdown passes Manning averages per game this season, which puts him on pace for 37 — 10 higher than the Broncos’ previous single-season standard, last set by Jake Plummer in 2004. (John Elway shares the record, with his career high coming in 1997.) Manning is also on pace to set franchise records in completion percentage (67.8 percent), passing yardage and quarterback rating (105.0).

28: Years that had passed since the Broncos scored on an interception and fumble return in the same game. Denver last pulled off that double-feature in a 28-7 win at Detroit on Oct. 7, 1984; Rulon Jones scored on the fumble and Ken Woodard took back an interception 42 yards for a score. That game is also remembered for the Broncos’ team-record 10 takeaways, including a club-record-tying seven interceptions, which punctuated a season in which the Broncos had a team-best 55 takeaways.

5: Number of interception returns for touchdowns for the Broncos since John Fox became head coach last year, including two this season.

0: Number of interception returns for touchdowns in the previous four seasons (2007-10) under Mike Shanahan, Josh McDaniels and Eric Studesville.

0: Number of four-interception games Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers endured before Monday night.

54.2: Rivers’ quarterback rating Monday, his worst against the Broncos in 13 games as a starter. His 50.4 rating in the 2005 regular-season finale was compiled after he was asked to relieve an injured Drew Brees, who tore his labrum when Gerard Warren landed on him.

79-6: The collective margin of the Broncos in the fourth quarter through six games this season. Only the 1980 Lions had a better fourth-quarter margin in the first six games, outscoring their foes 84-10. The six fourth-quarter points are also the fifth-fewest ever allowed by a team through six games. Only one other team has allowed six fourth-quarter points or less in the first six games: the 2004 Broncos, who only conceded three in sprinting to a 5-1 start.